At some point in our lives, each of us will plan a diet or exercise plan. It may seem like an easy thing to do but there are common mistakes that we all fall foul to at some stage or another. Overdoing the sugary and fatty foods and sitting down all day long without any exercise is not good for our bodies, so if you notice that your body and health is suffering as a result, making a change to your lifestyle is a great choice. Here are some tips to help that transition go a little more smoothly.
Avoid fad diets
There are millions of them around – the Atkins, 7-day Diet, Grapefruit Diet, 3-Day Diet, etc. – but none of these ways of losing weight will work, nor will they give your body the nutrients you need. The first step towards making a healthier diet plan is to give up on the fad diets and ensure that you’re getting the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy. This means avoiding fatty foods, lowering your sugar intake, up your intake of fruit and vegetables, and ensure you’re getting enough protein and calcium. In the long term, your body will thank you for it.
Don’t skip meals
It may seem like the easy way to halve your calorie intake, but skipping meals actually has an adverse effect not just on your health but also on your weight loss. Your sugar levels will lower too much and you will have cravings for sugary foods; your body will also cling to the fat in your food, making it harder to shift. Eating regular, small meals throughout the day will keep your metabolism moving and will ensure that you maintain a good blood sugar level.
All diet and no exercise
Exercise isn’t all about losing fat and calories; it’s actually vital for our health and wellbeing. It tones muscle, improves our cardiovascular health and even benefits our mental health. There are a number of reasons why exercise is so great for shifting excess weight, but don’t assume it only needs to be done when you’re on a diet. And on that note, don’t stick to just cardio when you’re hitting the gym. If you’re trying to tone up and lose some weight, you need to combine weights and cardio to see results. An exercise plan that has a weight lifting routine in it will help you to tone up and will also increase your metabolism, helping you to burn calories even when you’ve stopped training. Women often worry that they’ll bulk up too much but this isn’t the case – you’ll just get leaner, more toned and stronger. Ease into a weightlifting routine by building up slowly – don’t be tempted to go for a heavy weight straight away.
Don’t start off with too much
If you’re completely new to exercise, don’t launch into a five day-a-week routine straight away. Your body needs time to adjust to this new lifestyle, so take it slow and begin with light exercises such as jogging or yoga to get your body used to exercise. You can then build up to more intense workouts when you’re used to it. You should check with your GP before embarking on any new diet or exercise programmes, to ensure that it’s safe for you to do so – they may also be able to offer advice on ways to ease your body into it so as not to shock your system or risk injury.